Chapter 7

Father and I made our way towards the dining hall so I could eat something for dinner. I had no idea that I would've ended up falling asleep in the library. I'm pretty sure everyone searched everywhere except for my library because if they had searched there first, they would've found me. Anyways, I'm just so thrilled to know that I can train as a knight. I knew father would've gave into my request sooner or later but I didn't expect it to be this quick…maybe because I said things that hurt father. With that thought, I feel guilty for even asking. I glance up at father and he looks relieved but happy. The image of my father from the study room was starting to vanish—it didn't feel real even when it was but I like my father when he's smiling and cheerful.

We had reached the dining hall and father called the butler over to bring out some food for us. I had seated myself across father as the maids came one by one to serve us food.

"Thank you!" I said when they finished setting up the table.

"Ah Father, Did Isaiah eat dinner already?" I instantly turned to father to ask about Isaiah. I can't believe I forgot about him, he must be worried about me too.

"Actually, I'm not sure. I was so busy in finding you that I ended up skipping dinner." Father looked disappointed as he called over the butler.

"Did Isaiah eat dinner?" Asking the same question that I had asked with a worried look.

"No, Your Majesty. The Prince had refused to eat without your Majesty and the Princess presence." The butler informed us with a blank expression as he always did but inside the butler is a warm person.

"Father, I'll go get Isaiah! Please wait for me." I immediately got up from my seat and left before Father could even say anything. As I made my way through the halls which lead to Isaiahs quarter. I felt culpable for leaving Isaiah alone like that. He's only 3 years old and probably feels extremely lonely since mother passed away. On top of that he has so many classes to take which means he can't spend time with me or father. In no time, I had reached his room as I stood in front of it wondering if he was even awake or not but then I decided to just carefully go into his room. I slowly opened his door and with light footsteps made my way inside; To my surprise, he was awake but instead lightly crying. I instantly approached him after composing myself.

"Isaiah!" I softly yelled his name which made him turn his head towards me in an instant. He quickly tried to hide himself but I got in his bed right away and took him in a hug. At first, he was stilled in one place but slowly gave into the hug and started crying.

"Isaiah, why are you crying?" I softly asked him to which he tightly hugged me.

"Because…I thought…I thought you had left me. …And I waited….and waited…but you didn't come…for dinner." He said while sniffling and tears falling down on my back. I slowly patted his back to help him calm down.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I didn't think I would've fell asleep in the library but why didn't you come looking for me? You know where to find me." I continued patting his small back as I apologized. His tears had stopped falling, pulling back from the hug. There was only moonlight coming through the window, just shining brightly in the room. With the help of the moonlight, I could see Isaiahs flushed face. His eyes red and swollen from sobbing. He looked embarrassed as he continued to sniffle.

"I didn't think about that…" He shyly said and quickly averted his eyes. Now that I think about it, the female knights that were guarding my library had switched places with the other female knights so there would've been no way for them to know I was even in there.

"Next time if I don't show up to dinner or at any occasion, please come to look for me! You already know where to find me." I told him with a serious but soft expression. Without realizing, someone else had came into the room too.

"I was getting worried and I find you both hugging without me!" Father came by the bed, making himself comfortable next to us. I completely forgot about the reason I had originally came here for.

"It seems like no one has the appetite to eat tonight?" Father asked us sadly.

"No! I want to eat!" Both me and Isaiah said in unison to which we all ended up giggling.

"Then let's head back to the dining hall. It's already getting pretty late and getting a good amount of sleep is necessary for you both to grow up healthy and tall." Father informed us to which me and Isaiah responded with looking at each other and chaotically yelling on top of our lungs.

"I'LL GROW TALL!!" We both caught father off guard as he shockingly laughed at both of us. To which we both started laughing to, making our way towards the dining hall again but this time with Isaiah. A core memory made in just few minutes—I felt that bittersweet feeling in that moment. My heart ached knowing that it's not so often that the three of us have these happy memories with each other ever since mother passed away…but I'm happy to know that we can still make such memories together. So this is how mother felt that day? That bittersweet feeling at the realization that I'm growing and one day I won't be that little girl anymore. What an interesting emotion….

We all ate our dinner with laughter filled in the room and once in a while father would tell us to slow down or to not talk while eating.

"This is the only time I'll let it slide! Don't talk while eating again, it is disrespectful and discourtesy." Father told us, making us go silent at fathers serious expression. But then me and Isaiah start laughing after making an eye contact. We both struggled to keep our laughter in but terribly failed. Father looked at us dumbfounded but then joined in with us. From my peripheral vision, I could see the maids and the butler smiling at our interaction. I can tell they felt relieved that we were happy even without our mothers presence. I wouldn't lie but since the death of mother, everyone was impacted. Mother was a really kind person and didn't have any greed for power, who truly wanted to see the people in the empire live a prosperous life. Father and mother were a match made in heaven who had the right intentions for ruling the Southern empire, the type of rulers that every person wants to be ruled under because they took care of all their residents. An inspiration for both me and Isaiah, since we were going to be the ones to take on their legacy.

We finished our dinner and started to get up from our respective chairs.

"Sis, can I sleep with you tonight?" Isaiah turned towards me, asking me with anticipation in his eyes.

"Yea sure!" I replied back. A smile showing up on Isaiahs face and came right next to me.

"Why don't you both come sleep in my room?" Father suggested. Me and Isaiah looked at each other, confirming with only our eyes.

"YES!" We both excitedly yelled. Father giggled at how chaotic we were being tonight.

"Then Irene, you should go get dressed in your night gown." As father called over a maid with an hand gesture.

"Okay, father! I'll be at your room in few minutes!" I told father as I started walking with the maid.

When arriving at my room, it was so dark and lonely but Lily and the other maid quickly turned on all the lights. They all started preparing my bath so I can quickly get ready. In about 10 minutes, they finished giving me a bath and took out a night gown for me to wear.

"My lady, you are ready. Should we leave now?" Lily informed as she finished braiding my hair.

"Thank you!" I looked at myself one more time and got up from the cushion chair. "Lets go!" I excitedly said as me and Lily started walking towards my fathers quarter.

"Lily" I called out to grab her attention.

"Yes, My lady." She glanced over at me.

"I'm going to start training as a knight. Father agreed." She looked shocked and worried but quickly covered it with a cheerful expression. I know why she is worried and it's the same reason as fathers.

"I'll be fine, Lily. I will look after myself so don't worry about me getting hurt." I assured Lily but I know there's no way I can really guarantee that since being a Knight means getting hurt in some way or form. Yea, you can avoid it if you are very talented but a mere person who hasn't had any experience will get injured in some way. I know I won't be wielding a sword so early on but at one point, I will have to. There is actually so much I will need to learn.

"I know you'll do great, My Lady!" She encouraged me.

As we reached my fathers room, she bid goodnight as my father opened the door. I came inside to see that Isaiah is already in the bed and it seemed like father had just finished bathing. Father was wearing a bathrobe and his hair still wet.

"Irene, go get in bed with Isaiah. I'll go change and come out." I got in bed as instructed while father went towards his huge walk in closet. I make myself comfortable next to Isaiah, his eyes lighting up so brightly. Just then, father came out in his night clothes, a white shirt with a lace up on the torso area and black pants. He made his way towards the bed and lightly plopped himself next to us.

"So do you guys want to be on each side or on one side?" Father asked us.

"I want to be in the middle." Isaiah shyly told us which made me giggle.

"Okay! I'll be next to Isaiah!" With that response, I received a big smile from Isaiah and my heart warmed up. We started moving around to get in our places while father was trying to get our attention.

"Before we lay down and go to sleep, I want to get Isaiahs opinion on something." Abruptly stopping me and Isaiah as we felt the seriousness in fathers voice. We glanced at each other and turned towards father.

"I'll continue then. Isaiah, you should be informed about this too and I want to know your opinion on it. So your sister, Irene, wants to train as a knight. What are your thoughts on that?" At that question, my heart had seemed to have stopped. I didn't know what Isaiah would say and as I glanced over at him, he seemed conflicted.

"Sis, you want to train as a knight…?" Isaiah asked me, looking confused.

"Yea…." I had nothing else to say.

"…Is it because you can't be around guys? But if you want to train to be a knight, won't you be near males…" He said, getting more confused and made a thinking face for a little while until he spoke again.

"Sis, I'll train to be a knight so I can protect you!" He confidently said, smiling brightly at me. I glanced over at father and there was a faint smile on his face.

"No Isaiah. I want to train and learn to fight!" I firmly told him.

"…Is it because you couldn't protect mother that day? I remember you crying few months ago and…you had said that." Isaiah innocently asked me. I was surprised to know that he had seen me cry. When did he see me cry? I clearly remember crying late at night.

"How-" I mumbled but got cut by father.

"Isaiah, when was this? And Irene, why were you crying alone? You know I'm here for you so don't ever cry alone, always come to me whenever it is." Father finished talking with guilt written all over his face. I felt horrible as I glanced over at Isaiah and father.

"I thought I'd be a burden." Father looked shocked with my answer. It was the truth; I knew father was dealing with the emptiness in his heart from the loss of mother and I didn't want to put onto that.

"Irene, please don't ever think that! You have no idea how important you both are to me and I'll do anything to protect you both but now I'll help you both become capable of protecting yourself so when I'm not here, I'll know you both can look after each other." I could see tears welling up in my fathers eyes and it really hurt. But father composed himself like he always did.

"Isaiah, do you want to train with Irene?" Father turned towards Isaiah.

"Yes!" Isaiah answered with enthusiasm.

"Yay! Now I won't be alone." I was happy to know that Isaiah will train with me. I know he would've had to eventually learn to wield a sword anyways but an early start never hurts anyone right.

"Then it is decided! Come to my office after breakfast so we can plan out your guys schedule. And Irene, I need to talk with the professors to see what classes you'll be taking next so join me for that. Well then, let's go to sleep now!" Father informed us with a smile on his face and lightened up the mood. I laid on the left side of the bed, next to Isaiah and father was on the right side as he turned the lights off with only the moonlight shining in the room.

It had been few minutes and I could hear father and Isaiah breathing slowly in a consistent pace. Isaiah was snuggled into father, both fast asleep but I was struggling to sleep. My thoughts all over the place. Yes, I was happy that everything worked out well but then again am I being too selfish?

Without even realizing, I was fast asleep as I snuggled closer to Isaiah.